Meet Jaymie!

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About Jaymie

Life’s Work is much more than providing clients a place for assembly, kitting, and mailing jobs. It is about finding your inner passion, jump-starting your ambition, and ultimately finding yourself within society. One extraordinary Life’sWork client, Jaymie, demonstrates a great example of what our mission is all about. Beginning with our youth program, Jaymie molded herself through perseverance and eventually found the confidence to move into an apartment on her own. Enthusiastic and willing to try different opportunities through the various Life’sWork programs, Jaymie was able to experience different job opportunities through business partners such as Gamma Sports, Little Earth Productions, the University of Pittsburgh, and Coen Oil. Jaymie explains that through all of her different involvements, Gamma Sports was her favorite, and is eager to go back. Life’sWork of Western PA’s Coordinator of Adult Services, Ed O’Rourke mentions that “empowerment” would be a perfect word to describe Jaymie as she enabled herself to take public transportation & move into an apartment all by herself. Whenever an opportunity arises, she will find the ambition and seize control of it.

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Life’sWork Program Graduate Accepts Job at Veterans Place

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Belva Martin came to Life’sWork last fall, seeking the skills needed to find a job after being out of the workforce for some time. After discussing her options with staff here, she discovered that the Customer Service and Technical Skills Course seemed like a good fit, a program designed to train participants to work on the frontlines of service. The 8-week training course provides a comprehensive approach to customer service and technical skills, helping trainees jump start a career. Belva graduated from the course on November 30th with confidence for the next step in her career.

In less than six weeks, Belva has already been offered a great opportunity. She was hired as an administrative assistant at the Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending Veteran homelessness in the Pittsburgh region.

Belva’s story is living proof that dedication and hard work with the right support can help you accomplish your goals. The Life’sWork staff is very proud of her and excited for her new endeavor.

If you or anyone you may know is interested in the Customer Service and Technical Skills Training Course, contact Ed O’Rourke at (412) 471-2600 ext. 218 or eorourke@lifesworkwpa.org

MEET: Brittany

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Brittany Baron is one of our clients at Life’sWork Mon Valley Division. Happy and energetic, she is always willing to take on new challenges. For over a year now, Brittany has been employed at Jazzy Boutique located just down the street from the Life’sWork facility in Belle Vernon.

Jazzy Boutique is a unique place to shop, carrying quality consignment clothing and jewelry. In addition to hiring Brittany, Jazzy Boutique works with other non-profit organizations and homeless shelters throughout the region.

Diann Donaldson is the owner of Jazzy. She formerly worked as a Workforce Development Specialist at Life’sWork in Belle Vernon. Her previous work experience with our organization inspired her to become an entrepreneur and to continue working with Life’sWork to provide employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities at Jazzy Boutique.

Diann is very thankful to be able to work with Brittany and believes that she is “truly an inspiration to us all.” Brittany spends her shifts organizing and sorting the clothing for Diann and greets customers with a smile. “She is excited about work every day she comes in. It’s contagious,” Diann said.